Fun vehicle and bob, toboggan or roller coaster run for using the same

ABSTRACT

Amusement vehicle for a bob or toboggan run in particular, with a basic vehicle frame ( 2 ) on which rollers ( 5 ) and/or slide members for propagation of said vehicle ( 1 ) are arranged, as well as a second frame ( 3 ) for accommodation of one or several persons ( 11 ), which is movable essentially in perpendicular to the driving direction of said basic vehicle frame ( 2 ) as well as a bob, toboggan or roller coasting run for such an amusement vehicle.

[0001] The present invention pertains to a fun vehicle in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 as well as to a bob, toboggan or roller coaster run for using the same.

[0002] Already a great variety of amusement rides serving for entertainment of the visitors on fairs and amusement parks. Among others, herein also roller coaster runs and summer toboggan runs have to be mentioned.

[0003] For example, from DE 2330933 a toboggan run device is known in which a toboggan sledge can slide on a toboggan run device constructed of several segments, using gravity. In this kind of toboggan run device the sledge is not bound to an accurately defined path, in the form of rails e.g., but in certain limits is freely movable on said toboggan run device.

[0004] Another kind of toboggan run device is described in DE 29800205 in which a vehicle is movable on a rail arrangement also using gravity. This kind of toboggan run device essentially really corresponds to the principle of a roller coaster run only with the difference that in a roller coaster run several sledges are connected to one another and the vehicles cannot be braked individually.

[0005] However, it is a disadvantage in these toboggan devices that for compensation of the centrifugal forces the path has to be inclined with respect to the curve axis in the curves so that the drive does not have to compensate said centrifugal force by muscular strength alone. Therein it is a problem that the lateral inclination of the path due to the different drives never does exactly correspond to the centrifugal forces.

[0006] Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to create an amusement vehicle or a bob or toboggan run device in particular, offering high driving pleasure with expense as low as possible and simple construction as well as eliminating the drawbacks of prior art.

[0007] Said object is solved by an amusement vehicle showing the features of claim 1 as well as a bob, toboggan or roller coaster run in accordance with claim 8. Further preferred embodiments are subject of the depending claims.

[0008] The invention is based on the basic idea of having compensated the centrifugal forces acting on the driver of an amusement vehicle during passage of curves, by a seat arrangement freely movable in perpendicular to the driving direction of said amusement vehicle. In this way the actual centrifugal forces are directly converted into the movement of the seat arrangement. For this purpose the amusement vehicle in accordance with the present invention in addition to a basic vehicle frame at which rollers and/or slide members for propagation of said vehicle are arranged comprises a second frame at which one or several seats can be arranged and which is movably arranged on said basic vehicle frame essentially in perpendicular to the moving direction of said vehicle. For doing so it is advantageous to arrange a chassis on said basic vehicle frame, on which said second frame is movable.

[0009] For being capable of absorbing said centrifugal forces correspondingly, it is advantageous that said second frame moves in its moving direction along a closed orbit or a segment of a circle. This, thus, means that said chassis is built as open or closed pipe segment. In this way it is achieved that in curve drives said centrifugal forces displace said second frame with the driver or drivers along the cylinder surface of said pipe segment in the one or the other direction laterally or upwardly, said centrifugal forces being reduced thereby.

[0010] Herein, it is particularly advantageous to arrange said second frame as well as said amusement vehicle per se on a rail arrangement. By means of aid rails on one hand an accurately predefined movement of said amusement vehicle as well as also of said second frame is possible with respect to said basic vehicle frame and on the other hand said rail arrangements offer a simple possibility of providing for safe fixation avoiding said vehicle or said second frame being lifted from said rails. Such a securing means which preferably is to be provided for on said vehicle as well as on sad second frame movable in said vehicle, can in advantageous manner consist of opposing pairs of rollers and/or slide members so that said opposing pairs of rollers and/or slide members encircle said rails in such manner that detaching from said rails is impossible.

[0011] Due to the design of said amusement vehicle with a seat arrangement freely movable in perpendicular to the moving direction, thus, an increased driving fun for the user is achieved as well as a simplification for the construction of the path preferably consisting of a rail arrangement arranged on a scaffold. Said path namely no longer has to comprise inclinations for compensation of centrifugal forces. Consequently, it is advantageous to design said path such that in curves said path no longer is inclined with respect to said curve axis, i.e. thus essentially is arranged in perpendicular to said curve axis. Apart from that, said path similar to known roller coaster runs can include sloping, ascending or plane partial path sections.

[0012] By the bob, toboggan or roller coaster run device in accordance with the present invention and/or the amusement vehicle, respectively, provided therefor a broad width of design of a bob or toboggan run is given in which multiple effects can be effected which severely increase driving pleasure for the user. For example, it is conceivable to arrange short and narrow curve radii in such manner that the movable seat arrangement in said amusement vehicle due to the impulse caused by said centrifugal forces is pushed into a looping within a closed pipe-like chassis in which said movable seat arrangement is provided for.

[0013] Further advantages, characteristics and features of the present invention become evident with reference to the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the attached drawings. The figures therein in purely schematic way show

[0014]FIG. 1 a cross-sectional view through an amusement vehicle in accordance with the present invention as well as said rail arrangement on which said amusement vehicle is movable;

[0015]FIG. 2 a representation of said amusement vehicle in accordance with FIG. 1 in a curve passage; and in

[0016]FIG. 3 a longitudinal section through an amusement vehicle in correspondence with FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0017]FIG. 1 in a cross-sectional view shows an amusement vehicle 1 located on a rail arrangement 6, 7 on which it is movable. Said rail arrangement consists of the rails 6 and the support scaffold 7.

[0018] Said amusement vehicle 1 comprises a basic vehicle frame 2 on which rollers 5 are provided serving for propagation of said amusement vehicle 1. In total said amusement vehicle 1 comprises 3 pairs of opposing rollers 5 so that said amusement vehicle 1 is safely arranged on said rails 6.

[0019] On said vehicle frame 2 furthermore a chassis 10 is provided for which in the present embodiment is constructed as semicircular pipe section, the outer surface 4 in said embodiment (FIG. 3) being constructed open. However, it also is conceivable to embody said vehicle closed, i.e. to embody said chassis 10 as full-surface pipe member. On the inside of said chassis 10 in addition guide rails 8 are provided for on which a second frame 3 is movable by means of second rollers 9. By said guide rails 8 the moving direction for said second frame 3 in perpendicular to the driving direction of said amusement vehicle 1 or said basic vehicle frame 2 is given. A movement in parallel to the driving direction of said amusement vehicle 1 or said basic vehicle frame 2 is not possible for said second frame 2. On said second frame 3 a seat 11 is indicated schematically, on which a person can take a seat.

[0020] The operating mode of said amusement vehicle 1 now is such that, as can be seen from FIG. 2, the path consisting of said scaffold 7 and said rails 6 in the curves is not inclined with respect to the curve axis so that during curve passage the centrifugal forces acting on said second frame 3 move said second frame 3 together with said seat 11 along said guide rails 9 and/or along said segment of a circle, respectively, of said pipe chassis 10. The driver thus in correspondence with said centrifugal forces occurring in the curves is moved either in the one or the other direction within said pipe chassis 10, the driver therein due to the circular or circle-segmental cross-section of said pipe chassis 10 also being moved upwardly by said centrifugal forces.

[0021] In the shown embodiment said amusement vehicle does not include an own drive but is moved by gravity only. Correspondingly, the path similar to a roller coaster run or a toboggan run is provided with corresponding inclinations with respect to driving direction. 

What is claimed:
 1. An amusement vehicle for a bob or toboggan run in particular, with a basic vehicle frame (2) on which rollers (5) and/or slide members for propagation of said vehicle (1) are arranged, characterized in that said vehicle (1) comprises a second frame (3) for accommodation of one or several persons (11), which is movable essentially in perpendicular to the driving direction of said basic vehicle frame (2).
 2. The amusement vehicle as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said basic vehicle frame (2) includes a grid-shaped or surface-closed chassis (10) on which said second frame (3) is movable.
 3. The amusement vehicle as defined in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second frame (3) can move along an orbit vertically closed in cross-section in driving direction of said basic vehicle frame (2) or a segment of a circle so that during curve passages of said vehicle (1) said second frame (3) is displaced along said orbit by centrifugal forces.
 4. The amusement vehicle as defined in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said vehicle (1) and/or said second frame (3) are movable on rails (6, 8).
 5. The amusement vehicle as defined in claim 4, characterized in that said vehicle (1) and/or said second frame (3) include safety means preventing detachment of said vehicle (1) and/or said second frame (3) from said rails (6, 8).
 6. The amusement vehicle as defined claim 5, characterized in that said safety means consist of rollers (5, 9) and/or slide members arranged opposite to one another.
 7. The amusement vehicle as defined in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second frame (2) includes one or several seats.
 8. A bob, toboggan or roller coasting run or the like with at least one amusement vehicle (1) as defined in one of the preceding claims and a path (6, 7) on which said amusement vehicle (1) can move.
 9. The bob, toboggan or roller coasting run as defined in claim 8, characterized in that said path includes a rail or track arrangement (6).
 10. The bob, toboggan or roller coasting run as defined in one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that said path in driving direction is plane, sloping or ascending, said path in curves being arranged essentially in perpendicular to the curve axis. 